Timer apparatus for parking meters



Oct. 20, 1953 G. A. HALE 2,655,797

'TIHER APPARATUS FOR PARKING METERS "Filed March 21, 1949 INVENTOR. GA HALE Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UN IT ED TATiE'S *PATSEN T or rice TIMER. APPARATUS FORPARKING METERS Gerald A. Hale, Oklahoma/Git Okla.

iipplication March 21, 1949,S'erial No.82,631

-1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to alp'arking meter, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to a timer mechanism which is releasably and detachably secured thereto. application is related to the subject matter of 'applicants copending application No. 619,477, filed October '1, 1945, and entitled Automatic Parking Meter now Patent No. 2,625,250 issued January 13, 1953.

It is an important'object of this invention to releasably maintain an escapement timer assembly upon a parking meter frame plate and in operable relationship with the meter.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a drive mechanism for a parking meter having a removable and interchangeable escapement unit operably connected therewith.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a parking meter having frame plate constructed in such a manner to maintain a detachable escapement timer unit thereon, in such a manner to be operably cooperative with the drive assembly of the parking meter.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a parking meter having a separate timer unit which is releasable and detachable therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a back elevational view of a parking meter mechanism showing my improved invention thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away for clarity.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back frame plate of the. meter.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the rear of the escapement timer unit.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the timer shaft bearing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 2 designates a parking meter of the type disclosed and described in my co-pending application above referred to. The mechanism 2 comprises a back plate 4 cooperating with a front plate (not shown) for supporting the meter mechanism proper. A semi-circular dial 6 is supported by brackets 8 extending from the mechanism 2. The dial 6 cooperates with an indicator [0 in a manner as described in my copending application. A timer shaft i2 is loosely mounted in the frame plates and carries a suitable pinion gear 14 for driving the indicator sector gear 1-6. The driving means for thermal;- able shaft ['2 is provided through theclock works. timer, or escapement mechanism supported on the plate 4 in proximity of the loosely *moiihted shaft 12. The timer FB is detachabl'y {secured to the plate *4 "by a plurality of spaced locking studs 23 provided on the plate 4. 'The locking studs 20, as clearly shown in Fig. B, are rigidly secured in any suitable manner "(not shown) *th the plate 4 and are each cutaway to "provide a recessed portion 22 around a reduced-stud "'24 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The circumferential periphery of the timer housing 16 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly extending flanges or projections 26. It will be apparent that the number of flanges is dependent upon the number of locking studs on the plate 4. In the present instance three studs and three flanges are preferably used, however, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular number. The flanges are each provided with a cam surface 32 extending into a locking shoulder 34 for cooperation with the recesses 22 and stud 24 of the studs 20 as will be hereinafter set forth.

The timer I8 is preferably provided with a stub shaft 28 extending outwardly therefrom and cooperates with a freely rotatable bearing 30 disposed in the frame 4. The shaft I2 is also disposed in the bearing 30, thereby providing a sectional clock shaft, designated as l2 and 28, thereby permitting dis-engagement of the timer l8 without any removal of the pinion gear l4 and other elements of the parking meter which may be retained in the mechanism. The bearing 30 is provided with an irregularly shaped aperture 3| in order to conform to the irregularly shaped configuration of the shafts I2 and 28, thereby assuring rotation of the shaft [2 upon insertion of the timer driven stub shaft 28 in the loosely mounted bearing.

It will be apparent that in order to remove the timer l8 from the plate 4, it is only necessary to slightly rotate the timer l8 in a counter clockwise rotation whereupon the cam faces 32 are dis-engaged from the slot recesses 24 of the retaining lugs 20. Furthermore, the stub shaft 28 of the clock I 8 is removed from the bearing 30 and the timer I8 is completely removed from the meter mechanism.

A timer I 8 may be replaced by disposing the cam surface 32 of the flanges 26 in the recess 24 of the plurality of spaced locking studs 20 with a simultaneous insertion of the stub shaft 28 in the bearing 30 also journaling one end of the clock shaft [2. A right-hand movement of the timer I8 will effect a cam action on the surfaces 32 bringing the stop shoulders 34 into looking connection with the recesses 24 of the studs 20 thereby detachably locking the composite timer mechanism to the frame plate of the parking meter.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a parking meter having a composite timer mechanism which is readily removed or detachable therefrom to permit interchangeability of timer units in a quick and efiicient manner. This is particularly important in event the timer mechanism should become out of balance or inoperative for any reason, and it is desired to interchange a compact timer unit without necessarily dismantling the complete parking meter.

Changes may be made in the specification and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the following claim, as set forth.

I claim:

An apparatus for coupling a driving unit having a drive shaft to a framed driven unit having a driven shaft, comprising a bearing member rotatably disposed in the frame of the driven unit, said bearing member having an aperture therein to receive the drive shaft and the driven shaft, whereby the bearing member will transmit rotative movement of the drive shaft to the driven shaft, a plurality of outwardly extending circumferentially spaced flanges on the driving unit, the outer end surfaces of all of said flanges being substantially tangentially tapered in the same direction, and a plurality of studs secured to the frame of the driven unit circumferentially around said bearing member, said studs having recesses therein to receive said circumferentially spaced tapered flanges and secure the driving unit to the driven unit.

GERALD A. HALE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,741 Pierson June 28, 1921 1,441,279 Hammarlund Jan. 9, 1923 1,748,433 Wetzell et a1 Feb. 25, 1930 1,812,220 Shakespeare, Jr. June 30, 1931 1,909,073 Putnam May 16, 1933 2,033,699 Frech Mar. 10, 1936 2,039,544 Magee May 5, 1936 2,191,292 Spence Feb. 20, 1940 2,304,012 Neff Dec. 1, 1942 2,317,538 Lamar Apr. 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 36,883 Sweden June 3, 1914 

